The Kansas City Chiefs’ initial 53-man roster is set.
It came with a few surprises, but things are very fluid right now and changes will certainly be made. There are many players around the NFL looking for a job right now, and sometimes all they need is to find the right situation to succeed. General manager Brett Veach is always monitoring who’s available, and isn’t shy about pulling the trigger when he sees fit.
Let’s take a look at the biggest remaining needs for the Chiefs following roster cuts.
Running back
Four RBs survived cut day — Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt, Elijah Mitchell, and Brashard Smith. For the right price I believe all those guys are available, but Pacheco and Smith are probably the safest to stay. Hunt likely isn’t too far behind those two, but keep in mind that he’s 30 years old and averaged just 3.6 yards per carry last season.
Mitchell is definitely the most expendable. It was recently reported that the Chiefs are seeking RB help, whether it be through a trade or a signing. If they do acquire one, Mitchell will be first on the chopping block. All four RBs on K.C.’s roster have question marks, and a potential upgrade could really complete the offense for the 2025 season.
Offensive line
We know what we’re getting with the right side of the Chiefs’ offensive line in center Creed Humphrey, right guard Trey Smith, and right tackle Jawaan Taylor. However, as promising as they seem to be right now, left tackle Josh Simmons is a rookie, and left guard Kingsley Suamataia is still learning the position.
We will find out the truth about them during regular season action. K.C. has solid offensive tackle depth with Jaylon Moore and Wanya Morris, but interior linemen Mike Caliendo and Hunter Nourzad leave a lot to be desired. If a quality guard backup guard or center becomes available, the Chiefs should look to make an upgrade.
Defensive line
The Chiefs seem to be banking on a lot of “ifs” with the defensive line group, such as:
- DE Charles Omenihu being back at full strength after his ACL tear.
- DE Mike Danna getting back to the form he had in 2023.
- DT Omarr Norman-Lott and DE Ashton Gillotte contributing as rookies.
The only true star that K.C. has along the defensive line is DT Chris Jones. George Karlaftis is a solid Tier 2 pass rusher, and last year showed that DTs Jerry Tillery and Derrick Nnadi are past their primes. If the Chiefs hit on a couple of these “ifs,” they’ll be in fine shape. However, they should be keeping a keen eye on any potential upgrades.
